Free JET LAG! by Ryan Clifford Page A

this through. So much depended on it.
     
    Constance also had her own agenda – which she had revealed to nobody – including her husband.
     
    9
     
                  The rest of the week was taken up with preparations for the flypast and the deployment to Italy. Todd allowed all non-Marham crews to return to their bases - by car, bus or train - on the Wednesday afternoon, so that they could spend one night with their families before they disappeared for three months. They were due back by 2200 hours on the Thursday night in good time for the final practice on Friday morning.
     
                  Todd was entertaining his parents on Thursday night for a farewell dinner. The Station Commander and the boss of 619 Squadron were invited, with their wives, and the evening proved to be enjoyable if not over friendly. Todd and OC 619 still didn’t really get on and their conversation was polite but cursory. Todd’s parents were quieter than usual and Todd put this down to the fact that they were guests in his home – they were considerate like that – not wanting to take over the party on someone else’s patch. The evening came to a close at about midnight and as the Air Vice Marshal was leaving he dropped a bit of a bombshell.
     
                  ‘I hope you don’t mind too much, Todd, but I’ll be coming on the dress rehearsal tomorrow. I want to make sure that everything is OK from the flying side. I know that you have practised enough and everything went smoothly last time, but I need to satisfy myself that nothing can go wrong. After all it will be my neck if there’s an unexpected glitch. I’ll be in the C-130 cockpit – purely as an observer. You will still have complete control.’
     
                  ‘Fine,’ stuttered Todd, ‘you’re the boss – I’ll see you at briefing tomorrow – 0900 sharp.’
     
                  ‘Thanks , Todd – see you in the morning.’ And with a brief shake of hands and a peck on the cheek, Todd’s parents slipped away in their chauffeur-driven service vehicle.
     
                  What Todd didn’t know was that his mother, Constance would accompany her husband on the C-130. It was a stipulation upon which she would not compromise – and indeed, an essential ingredient of the plan.
     
    ***
     
                  ‘Right, settle down everybody. Time check in three-zero seconds, when it will be 0900.’ Todd was fully prepared for the coming brief, having been at work since 0700.
     
                  At that point the AVM walked through the Operations Wing briefing room door. All personnel present stood, Todd greeted his father, offered him a seat in the middle of the front row, and continued with the time check.
     
                  ‘Ten………..five, four, three, two   0900…hack!’
     
                  At this point the Met Man stood up and began his short briefing regarding the weather for the day.
     
                  ‘Good morning gentlemen. The weather for today should present few problems. This spate of warm weather is due to continue for some time. The high pressure system is moving slowly southeast and a weak front is passing across the UK. This is causing isolated CB activity and thunderstorms have been reported over northern England. Consequently, it is possible that an isolated shower may reach us by lunchtime. However, I believe that your take off is 1100 and you will be back on the ground by noon. Additionally, the weather for tomorrow looks excellent and also for the transit to Italy. Any questions.’
     
                  ‘Are you coming on the rehearsal, Jim?’ Todd was sure he would be, but Jim Charles the Senior Met Forecaster at Marham was famous for his dislike of flying.
     
                  ‘If I have to, yes I am. I’ll take a seat at the back of the room and catch the remainder of the